In August of last year five people broke into a Huntington Station, New York home. As the multiple assailants broke in, one of them drew a weapon and apparently fired a shot. At that point, resident Youssef Abdel-Gawad grabbed his rifle and returned fire into the would be invaders.

One of the five criminals, 31-year-old Jazzmen Bryant, was struck in the torso. Police found Bryant inside a dark-colored sedan along with two uninjured and unidentified men. Police were alerted to the shooting by the area's ShotSpotter sensor system and numerous 911 calls. Neither of the unidentified men in the car had called 911.

Bryant was taken to Huntington Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

What seems like a straightforward case of self defense - five intruders breaking into a home at night, at least one of them armed with a gun and seeming to open fire into the house - has met the New York justice system. Resident Youssef Abdel-Gawad was charged Monday (March 3rd) with manslaughter.

According to Abdel-Gawad's family the case is clear cut self defense - and they have home security footage that, to my eyes, seems clear cut showing one of the criminals firing into the house. Police were unable to find a shell casing on the scene so New York prosecutors have moved forward with charges.

You can watch the footage for yourself but I think there's a bigger question here. Let's leave out whether a shot was fired by an intruder. Let's leave out that one of the intruders is clearly holding a handgun. If five people are breaking into your home, is there any way you should be prosecuted for defending your home and family?

I would love for someone to explain how this is justice, much less how this is logical in any way.